Written Answers Wednesday 22 October 2008

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the basic epilepsy training standards are for Scottish Ambulance Service crews.

The Executive has supplied the following corrected answer:

Shona Robison: All Scottish Ambulance Service crews receive training in the management of epilepsy. This includes training on:

  the main causes of convulsions;

  the three common types of convulsions;

  an understanding of the four stages of a seizure;

  the management of a grand mal epileptic seizure;

  the management of status epilepticus;

  identifying the clinical signs of infantile convulsions, and

  the management of infantile convulsions.

Broadcasting

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the First Minister has made to BBC Scotland since May 2007.

Linda Fabiani: The First Minister has met formally with both BBC Scotland and the BBC Trust once since May 2007. In addition, he has spoken to senior executives at the BBC on a number of occasions, for example at the launch of the Broadcasting Commission and at the Royal Television Society’s annual Campbell Swinton lecture, which he gave on 27 February 2008.

Broadcasting

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms exist for official complaints by ministers to the broadcasting authorities in Scotland and what representations have been made since May 2007 on behalf of which ministers.

Linda Fabiani: No specific mechanisms exist for ministers to make official complaints to the broadcasting authorities in Scotland. Ministers meet or contact broadcasting authorities to discuss relevant issues for Scotland with those bodies when it is appropriate to do so.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the age ranges for automatic screening for breast cancer in line with those of England and Northern Ireland.

Nicola Sturgeon: Breast screening is offered to women between 50 and 70 years of age in Scotland. Women over 70 can self-refer for screening. This is in line with the UK National Screening Committee recommendations.

Carers

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when its revised strategy for carers will be completed.

Shona Robison: As the member will be aware, the development of our revised carers strategy will be informed by a review of progress against the recommendations within the Care 21 report The Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland . This review of progress will commence towards the end of 2008.

  We aim to publish the final strategy by early 2010.

Children and Young People

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the present arrangements made by online retailers to ensure that they are complying with legal obligations in relation to the sale of age-restricted goods and services to children and young people, with particular regard to items such as alcohol, tobacco, solvents, spray paints and knives.

Shona Robison: All retailers have a responsibility to comply with the law. This means they must exercise due diligence by taking all reasonable steps to avoid illegal sales. Guidance is available from local authority Trading Standards Services to help UK businesses involved in distance selling to exercise their legal obligations. This suggests, for example, that one of the simplest steps which may be taken is to restrict the sale of age restricted products to credit card owners as they must be aged 18 or over.

  The Scottish Government will continue to explore, including with the UK Government and other devolved administrations, ways to improve both the arrangements made by online retailers to avoid illegal sales and how compliance with the law is monitored by enforcement authorities.

Enterprise

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many contacts were made to Business Gateway services in (a) East Ayrshire and (b) South Ayrshire between 1 April and 31 August 2008.

Jim Mather: From 1 April 2008 to 31 August 2008 a total of 302 contacts were made to the Business Gateway in East Ayrshire. During the same period a total of 307 contacts were made to the Business Gateway in South Ayrshire.

Flood Prevention

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether recent studies have been undertaken into the efficacy of current flood prevention schemes in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Flood Defence Asset Database contains details of some 70 flood prevention schemes constructed under the 1961 Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act. This database was completed in 2007. Where details have been available it records the results of an analysis of the condition and performance of the scheme.

  Local authorities, who are responsible for maintaining these schemes, have access to the database to provide detailed information on the schemes within their area.

  In the local authority areas of North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire the following four schemes have been considered in terms of general condition and performance: Largs, Collier Street in Johnstone, Crosslee in Houston and Moredun in Paisley. All of these have been assessed to be in good or good to excellent condition.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether targets were set for (a) applications to and (b) outcomes of the Fresh Talent initiative when it was conceived and, if so, what these targets were.

Linda Fabiani: There were no targets set for the Fresh Talent initiative when it was conceived in 2004.

  The outputs to date include:

  884,170 visitors to www.scotlandistheplace.com.

  19,524 Relocation Advisory Service customers.

  8,475 successful applications to the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme.

  4,197 subscribers to the Scotland is the Place newsletter.

Health

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the number of children suffering from coeliac disease.

Shona Robison: Based on diagnostic information held on hospital discharge records, there were an estimated 478 children in Scotland (46 per 100,000) aged 17 years or under, living with a diagnosis of coeliac disease at 31 December 2007. This may underestimate the true prevalence in the general child population, as these records will not include those with the condition but who have mild, or no, symptoms.

Health

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision NHS Scotland makes for the treatment of ex-service personnel who receive a War Disablement Pension, for (a) general medical treatment and (b) specialist treatment related to the injuries they received in the armed services.

Shona Robison: The NHS in Scotland has provided priority treatment for War Pensioners since 1953 and, in February 2008, this was extended to all veterans in Scotland, for health conditions related to their service. General practitioners and NHS hospital clinicians should give priority treatment for conditions related to military service unless there is an emergency case or another case demands clinical priority. All NHS boards have an appointed priority treatment champion tasked with monitoring appropriate implementation of this policy.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring and surveillance arrangements are in place for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections.

Nicola Sturgeon: All clinically significant blood infections, including Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, are reported to Health Protection Scotland on a weekly basis by NHS bacteriology laboratories, a national arrangement which has been in place since 1969. Antibiotic resistance will be monitored locally and nationally via the national roll-out to laboratories of automated sensitivity testing equipment, which is being funded by the Scottish Government. Immediate management of potential outbreaks of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an issue for the NHS board infection control team to address.

Immigration

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to monitor how many inquiries received by the Relocation Advisory Service result in individuals coming to Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government does not monitor individual outcomes of enquiries to the Relocation Advisory Service, instead, overall assessment of the impact of the service is carried out through external evaluation. Since it was established in October 2004 there have been two evaluations of the service and a progress report on the Fresh Talent initiative, these can be found on the Scottish Government website.

  Evaluation of the Pilot Relocation Advisory Service Phase 2

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/19160348/0.

  Evaluation of Year One of the Pilot Relocation Advisory Service

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/10/13141631/15.

  Progress Report on the Fresh Talent Initiative

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/10/19092604/0.

Infant Mortality

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the infant mortality rate has been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.

John Swinney: Figures for the infant death rate (the number of deaths in the first month of life, expressed per thousand live births) in each health board area are published annually by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS). The figures for 1998, 1999 and 2000 are given in the tables numbered 1.3 in the Annual Reports of the Registrar General for Scotland for those years, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 4049, 7222 and 15009 respectively). The figures for each subsequent year are available from the GROS website, in the relevant years’ versions of Vital Events Reference Tables, Section 1, Table 1.3, which can be found via http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/vital-events/index.html .

  Care should be taken when interpreting rates and trends where there are a small number of deaths each year. For example, the rate would appear to double and then halve if the numbers of deaths in consecutive years were one, two and one.

Local Authority Expenditure

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of total expenditure each local authority spent on frontline services in each year since 1999.

John Swinney: Local authorities’ financial returns do not differentiate between expenditure on front line services and, for example, back office administration costs. Local authorities’ total expenditure by service for the period 1999-2007 is available on the Scottish Government’s website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16945/SLGFS.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to increase access to supported employment for people who have had mental health problems.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government, in partnership with COSLA, is developing a Framework for Supported Employment to provide support to people with disabilities to secure and maintain paid employment in the open labour market. The framework will concentrate on supporting individuals who have a learning or physical disability and those with mental health conditions.

  A task group has been established to oversee the development of the framework. It includes stakeholders from the Scottish Union of Supported Employment, Jobcentre Plus, DWP, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Association of Mental Health and the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health.

  It is anticipated the model will be transferable for other client groups.

NHS Finance

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of guidance to NHS boards on co-payments will be completed.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government will conduct the review of guidance to NHS boards on co-payment between October 2008 and March 2009.

Palliative Care

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how Living and Dying Well: A national action plan for palliative and end of life care in Scotland takes account of the needs of children and young people.

Nicola Sturgeon: The action plan will lead to the development of a single, comprehensive approach to the provision of palliative and end of life care that will be embedded across Scotland for the first time. The action described in Living and Dying Well represents a package of measures to support anyone diagnosed with palliative and end of life care needs, regardless of age, diagnosis or location.

Palliative Care

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional funding announced for palliative and end-of-life care will be allocated to support children and young people.

Nicola Sturgeon: The action plan will lead to the development of a single, comprehensive approach to the provision of palliative and end of life care that will be embedded across Scotland for the first time. NHS boards are responsible for the planning and provision of NHS services and the additional funding of £3 million per annum which was announced for the implementation of Living and Dying Well , will be distributed to NHS boards. It will be for NHS boards to agree appropriate funding of care providers within their board geographical area. The funding will be focussed on general practices with the aim of improving generalist palliative care for all, regardless of age, diagnosis or location.

Palliative Care

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what priority local authorities are expected to give to providing services identified in Living and Dying Well: A national action plan for palliative and end of life care in Scotland .

Nicola Sturgeon: The action plan will lead to the development of a single, comprehensive approach to the provision of palliative and end of life care that will be embedded across Scotland for the first time. All key agencies and stakeholders, including local authorities, the voluntary sector and the NHS in Scotland will need to ensure appropriate priority is given to the actions set out in Living and Dying Well .

Palliative Care

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding will be provided to local authorities to enable them to take forward the actions identified in Living and Dying Well: A national action plan for palliative and end of life care in Scotland .

Nicola Sturgeon: The action plan will lead to the development of a single, comprehensive approach to the provision of palliative and end of life care that will be embedded across Scotland for the first time. In consultation with their stakeholders and partners, all NHS boards will be responsible for ensuring appropriate resources are made available for the provision of palliative and end of life care services within their geographical area.

Public Appointments

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what posts of inspector general exist in Scotland; what consideration has been given to extending such posts, and when any announcement is expected to be made.

John Swinney: In Scotland we have no inspectors general, but we have chief inspectors in several policy areas such as education, constabulary, prosecution, prisons and fire. There is currently no plan to extend this range of posts. Indeed, following the Crerar Review of regulation, audit, inspection and complaints handling, government and Parliament will be considering a range of options in the forthcoming months, to reduce the numbers of public service inspectorates. The government plans to make a statement soon.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15974 by Jim Mather on 10 September 2008, when its exploration of the accreditation standards for installers working under the Scottish Community and Household Renewable Initiative is to be completed; when any changes in the accreditation standards will be made public, and how they will be drawn to the attention of potential installers.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is awaiting a proposal from an industry-led working group over possible options for accreditation for microgeneration in Scotland. We expect to have these by the end of the year. Once we have had the chance to consider these proposals we will consult with installers over the introduction of any changes.

  In addition to the grant programme websites and relevant terms and conditions being amended, installers will be notified of any changes through Scottish Renewables, the trade associations, and the Energy Saving Trust.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S3F-1077 by Alex Salmond on 2 October 2008 ( Official Report , c. 11452), whether it will list the 14 major renewable projects consented to since May 2007, also showing the date on which each consent was granted and the additional generating capacity that will be provided by each project.

Jim Mather: Section 36 Consented Projects from May 2007 to October 2008

  

 
 Development
 Technology
 Total Consented Megawatts
 Determination


 1
 Inverlael
 Hydro
 3
 4 July 2008


 2
 Harestanes
 Wind
 213
 10 September 2007


 3
 EMEC
 Tidal
 3
 28 September 2007


 4
 Carnoch
 Hydro
 1.5
 1 October 2007


 5
 Mid Hill
 Wind
 75
 10 April 2008


 6
 Griffin
 Wind
 204
 31 January 2008


 7
 Gordonbush
 Wind
 87.5
 9 April 2008


 8
 Innerhadden
 Hydro
 1.4
 14 April 2008


 9
 Carraig Gheal
 Wind
 75
 13 June 2008


 10
 Mark Hill
 Wind
 84
 25 June 2008


 11
 Arecleoch
 Wind
 180
 25 June 2008


 12
 Clyde
 Wind
 548
 21 July 2008


 13
 Crystal Rig Phase II(a)
 Wind
 27
 29 July 2008


 14
 Keltneyburn
 Hydro
 2.2
 24 September 2008

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which large-scale renewable projects were granted consent in the two months to 24 September 2008 and on which dates.

Jim Mather: Large-scale electricity generating developments (over 50MW for onshore wind and over 1MW for hydro/Marine development) are considered by Scottish ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

  In July 2008 Scottish ministers consented to two developments under the Electricity Act 1989. The Clyde wind farm was consented on 21 July 2008 and the Crystal Rig II(a) wind farm extension was consented on 29 July 2008.

  In September 2008, the Keltneyburn hydro-electric generating station was consented on 24 September 2008.

  No developments were consented in August 2008.

Scottish Government Ministers

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish ministers and junior Scottish ministers have received security clearance.

John Swinney: It has been, and remains, a policy of successive governments that ministers of the Crown are not subject to security vetting.

Scottish Government Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its officials have received security clearance.

John Swinney: On national security grounds and for data protection reasons, information on officials who have received security clearance cannot be provided. However, I can confirm that The Scottish Government adheres to the UK Government national security vetting policy ensuring that its application is necessary, proportionate and adds value.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether care home staff qualify for free flu vaccinations in 2008.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recommends that everyone who works in health and social care should be vaccinated against seasonal flu. All staff within the NHS can access the vaccination for free from their employers. While the Scottish Government recommends that staff in other health and social care organisations are offered the flu vaccination, vaccination of these staff is ultimately a matter for the organisations and employers concerned.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the uptake was of the flu vaccination by care home staff in 2007.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued in 2008 in relation to flu vaccinations for care home staff.

Shona Robison: The Chief Professionals Officers of the Scottish Government, in their letter of September 2008, recommend that social care organisations should consider offering the influenza vaccination to staff. In addition, a new information leaflet for health and social care staff has been distributed widely in advance of this year’s flu season to promote the vaccination to health and social care staff.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued in 2008 in relation to flu vaccinations for health care workers.

Shona Robison: The Chief Professional Officers of the Scottish Government, in their letter of September 2008, make clear that NHS organisations should provide the flu vaccination free of charge to staff directly involved in patient care. In addition, a new information leaflet for health and social care staff has been distributed widely in advance of this year’s flu season to promote the vaccination to this group.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when flu vaccinations will be made available in 2008.

Shona Robison: 80% of the total flu vaccination supply ordered for Scotland was available by mid October 2008 with 99% due to be delivered by the end of October 2008. The vaccination programme itself commenced on 1 October 2008 and many GP practices across Scotland have already commenced vaccinating the at risk population.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether supplies of flu vaccine are sufficient to meet demand from at-risk groups.

Shona Robison: The amount of flu vaccine ordered each year in Scotland is based on experience from previous years’ vaccine requirements for the at risk groups. There is nothing to indicate at this stage that the vaccine ordered for Scotland for this year will be insufficient to meet the requirements of the at risk population.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the uptake of the flu vaccination by those groups most at risk.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has launched a completely new marketing campaign for this year’s flu season with newly designed marketing materials including posters and leaflets. A new television commercial has also been produced for this year’s flu season. A pilot will also operate in two NHS board areas to investigate the impact of local practices writing to invite those under the age of 65 in at risk groups to attend for their free flu vaccination. The pilot and all marketing activity will be evaluated at the end of the flu season.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the uptake of the flu vaccination by elderly people.

Shona Robison: Uptake of the flu vaccination by those aged 65 and over continues to be in excess of the 70% national target, and in the last two years has been around or in excess of the 75% World Health Organization target. Although we are currently therefore exceeding our target for this population, we are not complacent and will continue to employ a national call up letter and ensure that marketing activity remains inclusive of the 65 and over at risk population.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage those who care for elderly people to enter the flu vaccination programme.

Shona Robison: Newly designed marketing materials supporting this year’s vaccination programme highlight the importance of the vaccination to those who care for elderly people, particularly in the case of unpaid carers, who are entitled to the vaccination free of charge. The Scottish Government makes every effort to ensure that marketing materials leaflets are distributed to as widely as possible and currently distribute materials to more than 1,000 organisations supporting elderly people.

Young Carers

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to issues identified at the recent young carers festival.

Shona Robison: I welcome all of the comments and suggestions submitted by the young carers attending this festival. The issues identified by the young carers at the event will inform the development of the young carers section of our revised carers strategy.

  The feedback from the young carers will also inform the on-going inclusion of young carers messages in mainstream policy and guidance for all children and young people.

Young Carers

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what gaps it has identified in services for young carers.

Shona Robison: From speaking to young carers and their representatives at the recent young carers festival, I am aware that there are a number of areas where services for this group of young people can be improved.

  For example, young carers often report experiencing a lack of understanding from staff within statutory agencies about what it means to be a young carer and how to best meet their specific needs. We will be looking to address this, and many of the other issues raised at the festival, in the young carers’ section of our revised carers strategy.